Fire hits Dover home of former state rep.

DOVER — A one-alarm fire struck the home of former State Representative Phyllis Woods Saturday afternoon on Berry Street where multiple departments responded to the scene.

Initially reported as a chimney fire, departments responded at 2:27 p.m. when neighbors reported heavy smoke coming from both sides of the house.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Jim Ormand, a small fire in the attic was discovered upon arrival.

Set back some distance from a busy Glenwood Ave., Ormand said the quiet street, though tucked away, was beneficial to crew being able to respond without much traffic obstructing or hindering the quick response.

No one was home at the time of the small blaze and the exact cause of its ignition remains under investigation.

While Dover, Durham, and Somersworth fire departments responded to the scene at 1 Berry St., a ladder truck from Somersworth provided station coverage at Dover’s Liberty North End station; South Berwick manned Central Station on Broadway in the downtown area; and the Newington Fire Department covered services from the South End Station.